2 village chairmen, 3 others arrested for drugs in Pangasinan

ROSALES, Pangasinan — Two barangay (village) chairmen and three other persons were arrested in simultaneous search warrant operations conducted by joint teams of police at their respective residences at 4:00 a.m. on Thursday in Rosales town.

Chief Inspector Ador Tayag, chief of police of Rosales, said the simultaneous operations were conducted by elements of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, Rosales police and of the Provincial Public Safety Company based in Tayug.

Arrested were Barangay Chairman Crisanto Coloma, Jr., 61, of San Pedro West in Rosales; and Barangay Chairman Victor Chan of Carmen West in Rosales.

Seized from Coloma’s house were two-heat sealed sachets containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, one Cal. 9mm pistol, one magazine assembly containing 11 bullets, one Cal. 45 pistol with one magazine containing three ammunition and one fragmentation grenade.

The suspect will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165, and illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosive.

Chief Inspector Norman Florentino, chief of the police community relations, told newsmen that Coloma is a provincial high value target.

The other barangay chairman arrested was Victor Chan, 48, of Barangay Carmen West, Rosales from whose house lawmen seized four sachets of shabu.

Also arrested were Alex Pascua, 38, a jeepney conductor, also of Carmen West from whom four sachets were seized; Isaac Rabara, 41, also of Carmen West, three sachets; and Nasiet Miento, 37, a construction worker, also of Carmen West, three sachets of shabu and aluminum foil.

Chan and the other three suspects were charged for violation of RA 9165 only.

One search warrant served turned out to be negative.All the search warrants were issued by the RTCV judges in BVaungan, La Union and Rosales, Pangasinan. Leonardo Micua/PNA-northboundasia.com